Fireplace screen



Patented July 22, 1952 oFFics FlREPLACE SCREEN Lawrence J Gaetano, Milford, Conn., assignor'to The American Windshield; &: Specialty Co...

Milford, Conn a corporationtof Connecticut Application August .16, 1950, Serial No. 179,824

r l The present invention relates to an improved fireplace screen, particularly of the type wherein a pair of flexible collapsible metal mesh draw curtains are supported upon rod means'provided across the top of a metalframe, and are adapted to be mechanically operated by a'chain connected to the curtains and having its ends extended to the outer side of the frame for operating the draw curtains into their respective open" and closed positions. It is an object of the invention to provide improved means for assembling the frame and the operating mechanism of the draw curtains wherebysubstantial economies are effected in the production of such screens, and further to provide structural features whereby improved operation of'the curtains is effected. With the above'and other objects in-view, anembodimen't of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fireplace screen, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, the draw curtainsbeing shown in openposition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation'showing the right hand end screen as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is'a top plan view.

li ig. 5 is a rear elevation, the draw curtain being shown in closed position. I

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away andthe draw curtains being shown in closed position. b H I Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 6. V v

'Fig. Bis a horizontal sectional view one. further enlarged scale,'and takenalongthe use 8- 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8. g

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View, taken'along the line Ill-IDof'Fig. 6. y

Fig. 11 is'a perspective view of the rod supporting and c h'a'in guide bracket employed.

Fig. 12 is adetail perspective view showing the connection between the chain andone of the draw curtains. r

'2 Claims. (01. 160-126) according 'to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a rectangular screen frame adapted to be self-supporting upon the fireplace hearth and to engage against the face of the fireplace contiguousto the fireplace opening, this frame consisting of a] lower cross rame member ID formed of sheet metal having a longitudinal inwardly 'extendingflange' l l at its lower edge and a longitudinal inwardly extending flange I2 at itsupperedge, the flange. being "the full Width of the frame and the flange IZ'being substantially narrower to provide hang;

l4, a lower angle-section strip l5 and vertical end strips ls'l6, these strips being assembled by bolts l8 at the four corners'of the stiffening frame, which bolts also serve to connect theangle-section vertical frame members l9 and 2,0 of the-screen frame as well as the forward foot members 2| and 22 ateach end of the screen frame. At the inner side of the screen frame there are secured upon the angle-section reinforcing strip lii a pair of rearwardly extending foot members 23-43 for cooperation with the foot members 2| and 22 to provide firm support for the screen frame, the foot members 23-43 being spaced inwardly from each end so that they will extend into the fireplace opening.

7 Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the fireplace screen,

the several figures of At'the upper end of the screen frame there is provided an angle-section cross frame member z t-overlapping the upper ends of the .vertical frame members secured thereto by bolts 25 and '26, these bolts in addition to securing the frame parts together having the additional function of supporting otherfloperating parts of the screen, as ,will presently more fully appear. 7

.The' two flexible and collapsible metal mesh draw curtains 2? and 28 are respectively supported at their upper edges upon rods 29 and 310 by a'series of rings 3| slideably supported upon the rods and engaged at spaced points in the upper mesh'openings of the curtains. ,Therod.

29 is provided at its outer end witha forwardly offset flattened mounting portion 32 having a bolt-receiving hole 33 through which is engaged l9 and 20 and respectively the bolt 25, a frame securing nut 34 being engaged member 36 secured centrally upon the under side of the upper cross frame member 24 by ascrew 31 engaged upwardly through center holes 38 and 5 39 in the bracket and cross framemembers. and

screwed into a ball-shaped at the'ii'ipi side of the cross frame member, brac member is provided at one end with a depending guide portion 4| adjacent its forward edge 'h'av' ing upper and lower holes 42 and 43 therein, the

lower hole 43 having the, end of the rod 29 supportedvtherein, and thefu per hole, adaptedto fa w l s tly cr g uuya ther fend of theflbracke't, and, ad.- edgefthere'is' provided: a similar. having. upper and lower holes 45 therein, the werholeas' having the inner H the. guide rod'iiflsupported therein. N The .outenend of the, guide rod, 301s provided withla 'flattenedlmounting portion 41,having. a suit eeeiy ing';holetiij through which isflengag'ed tli 'ol't'zfigfa frame. securing nut 49"b 9 iZlg H ain'stj the' upright frame.member20,to.se. to'j the upper crossffra'ine member. Z4, and e the rod end from the frarrie member, d a red, securing nut 553, being. en' ge'd" 2 6 is. substantially. longer than. the bolt ject's; from the nut-[5D lto fprovide sup f-' i itroracna guidmg pussy '51, which 1's ,,reta1 edj'upon' theibolt .byla" guardiplatef52 itype capnut :54 secured "up' n'tnej'egd e. bolt," the but. beingof such length that wit the pimp, 54 tightened} thereon there sum cie'ntl' clearance to permit. 'fr'eel' rotation of the pulley '5l'.lTh'e plate 152 has. a 'squaredfend' en; gage 'th, the;v innerf vertical: surface of th up; righ frame members, so that'iiti's'preve" ed fror'nltuin'ing'and provides aguard'to pre t pulley bus' lleteral y ahg 61 h? er s fil s sam t. ,hdi a t l w h a andflthu's. permit; the relatively. smauiaiann e'tr psnieys hayingiai adiuS is lt fir h n the M11 tn knessof the frame member, to'be projected to a co 'derable degree beyondlthe outer. surface of ofseeurethejrpdLehllfthereona e h ef' hol s? n ged .by'. meant, aneiby,

4 the surface of the frame member to effect its smoother operation.

The chain, according to the invention, is of a special type, particularly designed for cooperation with the particular form and arrangement of the pulleys. This chain is a twisted link type 'pf' chain of fiat form, that is, it is substantially "wider than its verticalthickness and will lie in flatrelation upon a flat surface. Consequently the pulleys 58 and 59 are of cylindrical form between their edge retaining flanges to provide a gsurfacepver which flat side of the chain will be supported without turning. Furthermore the openings 55 and ilhave their upper ends arched ,r'lbPkfihQ ames-a distance substantially less than the jwidthpf the chain and only slightly greater, than the vertical thickness of the chain, "and, as'the vertical diametric planes of the pul- 1ey5.; are within the openings, they will in cooperation with the pulleys, prevent twisting of the.. ch a in as it rnovesover the. pulleys. Consequenuyithere will be. no jamming of the operation clu'e'to.twisting of the chain as. is likely tooccur "the mesh curtains .21 and why a pair of ring members, 66,. as, shown iii-Figs, 6 and :12, and

.= which .arefengaged with the-meshopeningsrat the ripper t rist e mr aina hes r g em s-r' d be the e; ree and a ro ided. a the e -swat s. ng extens o hi h are. respectively clamped uponthe two runs of th she nJ th l ed po t en 9 he d a curtains the ring membersiifi are pulled a ain t a t a ops to l m th ose positio with the curtains overlapped. Becauseof the ar-,- rangement of the portions 4! and 44 adjacent the @BQWBIEQBQ a d. man ed e o t a ket 36 pecs a p vided a ach nd of h racket through. which the respectiye runs of the chain and the ring member GGcan move as the draw curtains are opened andclosed,

' The outer edges otthedraw curtains are seeured to thescreen frame by rings 'B8 -;68' con- :nected in the mesh openingsat. the upper outer :cornersyof the-two curtains and engaged inholes $9 69. in the flattened end portions oftheguide rods 29 and 30. The, lower outer corners are a llrfi by r n 10-10 sonne e rin me O en n 1a the ou er e DI he, c -rain a engaged in holes Ii-1 I; provided. in; the flange l2 i -t e upper d Of the. lower. cross e berof the screen frame. I l il ustr t d-ans (185921 22 pr fe an e si emb dimen -invsntion m it will be understood that changes may bema de the e n thin. he s i i and. sc e er o a defined in the appended claims;

W343 q eim di i 1. In a fireplace screen, a screen .framecom; r sin a a r; o er a id f am mb and a ris ntals os f me mem r e t n sh een.the. .12pm" ends :said s de ame m hers and v rla ped-at s n s t the. p er.

ends of said side frame members to provide -vertica-lly overlapped end portionasaid upper ends ofsaifd. side frame members each having a bolt receiving hole and said overlapped ends of-s'aid erm mmP 9 h I eI il ei reseiram m m a h i g. a b receiving hole in register with said respective holes of said side frame members, a pair of headed screw bolts, one engaged inwardly through the registered holes at each of said overlapped ends of said cross frame member, a frame securing nut engaged upon each of said bolts to secure the overlapped ends of said cross frame member to said vertical side frame members, curtain supporting rod mean-s extending longitudinally at the inner side of said upper cross frame member'having apertured outer end portions engaged with and supported by said bolts, and spaced from said cross frame member by said frame securing nuts, and a rod securing nut screwed upon each of said bolts and securing said apertured end portions of said rod means thereon against said frame securing nuts.

2. In a fireplace screen, a screen frame comprising a pair of vertical side frame members and a horizontal cross-frame member extending between the upper ends of said side frame members and overlapped at its ends with the upper ends of said side frame members. to provide vertically overlapped end portions, said upper ends of said side frame members each having a bolt receiving hole and said overlapped ends of said cross frame member each having a-bol't receiving hole in register with said respective holes of said side frame members, a pair of headed screw bolts, one engaged inwardly through the registered holes at each of said overlapped ends of said cross frame member, a frame securing nut engaged upon each of said bolts to secure the overlapped ends of said cross frame member to said vertical side frame members, curtain supporting rod means extending longitudinally at the inner side of said upper cross frame member having apertured outer end portions engaged with and supported by said bolts, and spaced from said cross frame member by said frame securing nuts,

a rod securing nut screwed upon each of said bolts and. securing said apertured end portions of said rod means thereon against said frame securing nuts, one of said screw bolts being extended inwardly from the rod securing nut thereon to provide a pulley supporting shaft, a chain guiding pulley rotatably engaged upon said shaft, a

pulley retaining nut screwed upon the outer end of said shaft, and a curtain drawing chain trained over said pulley.

LAWRENCE J. GAETANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,152,474 Gromes Mar. 28, 1939 2,185,305 Marchand Jan. 2, 1940 2,512,480 C'almy June 20, 1950 

